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Tressa Cates

Tressa Cates

(September 14, 1903 — May 6, 1991). Nurse at Sternberg General Military Hospital. Interned with her future husband in Santo Tomas, 1942-45.

April 23, 1942

Just as I gathered my frying-pan, dishes, and other utensils from under my bed in preparation for lunch, three American men entered the room, armed

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April 24, 1942

The Commandant finally consented to a nine o’clock curfew. How happy and grateful we were to be able to stay in the front ground and

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April 26, 1942

The lovely strains of “Rock of Ages” floated into my room as I watched the Protestant services in the Father’s garden. To the right of

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April 27, 1942

Our men were building large dining sheds made of wood, and soon they would be completed for the dreaded rainy season. There was an air

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April 28, 1942

The Nishi-Nishi was most informative and educational. For the last few days it was filled with instructions on how to make the Rising Sun flag.

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April 29, 1942

We were not permitted to forget the Emperor’s birthday! The pictorial section of the Nishi-Nishi showed victorious soldiers shouting as they dramatically planted the Rising

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May 1, 1942

Many of the young belles of the camp wore hibiscus leis and flowers in their hair to celebrate May Day. My two Spanish and Dutch

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May 2, 1942

No more bread was to be served in the line. This spelled hardship and hunger for those who had no money to buy the bread

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May 3, 1942

Shocking and horrible stories were being repeated in the camp about the suffering of our captured forces. Forced marches without adequate food and water! Atrocities

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May 4, 1942

Catesy was promoted from his garbage detail! He now helped at the front gate by handing out packages brought to internees from the outside. For

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May 5, 1942

We listened to the happy and gay music of Gilbert and Sullivan recordings in the plaza. Usually, their music and rollicking lyrics cheered me, but

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May 7, 1942

No other topic interested us. Had Corregidor fallen? On my way to get breakfast I stopped when I saw five men grouped around another man

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May 8, 1942

Corregidor Fars. Despite the morning headline, people still refused to believe. But when on the next page of the Nishi-Nishi they saw a picture of

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May 10, 1942

We were saddened to hear the news that a woman whom many of us knew had committed suicide on the outside. At the hospital we

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May 11, 1942

The morning paper had this to say about Corregidor: LUXURIOUS BEYOND WORDS. In the editorial section entitled “Corned Beef and Corregidor,” the Japan Times commented

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May 12, 1942

One of our bird-brain internees was found stretched out in his shanty in a drunken stupor. From hoarded leftover cracked wheat saved from breakfast, he

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May 13, 1942

Mothers, wives, sweethearts, and friends eagerly scanned the five-page typewritten list of captured American and Filipino soldiers compiled by the Red Cross. The names were

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May 15, 1942

Stupid and disquieting rumors continued to plague us. Today it was rumored that we would be shipped to Portugal, and by evening our destination had

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May 16, 1942

For the last two months amateur gardeners have worked several hours a day, planting, weeding, and hoeing, and now these gardens were supplying the camp

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May 17, 1942

According to the paper, today was the hottest day in 57 years. Because of the unbearable heat, I joined some of my roommates who sat

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May 18, 1942

Smiling and victorious Japanese soldiers and generals leered at us from the pages of the pictorial section of the Nishi-Nishi. As I gained strength and

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May 20, 1942

Mr. Nagy sent me a box of peanut brittle, and I was cheered and amused by his note. In describing Rags, he wrote that she

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May 21, 1942

Tonight the head of our executive committee, an American, a British woman, and a twelve-year-old American boy were permitted to broadcast a short message to

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May 27, 1942

It was a big day for the Nips! Navy Day! Many pages of the morning paper were splashed with pictures of the Imperial fleet’s successes.

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May 29, 1942

The morning Nishi-Nishi contained an eye-witness account of the shelling of the Santa Barbara coastline in California. Of course, we didn’t believe it, but we

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May 30, 1942

Memorial Day! I would have forgotten it if someone hadn’t reminded me. It was just another day in here, but still I had to serve

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May 31, 1942

My roommate Margo was in a special kind of seventh heaven today. She dashed into the room with blonde hair flying and eyes shining. Then,

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October 13, 1944

“It looks like Santo Tomas will be the last line of defense!” Catesy looked a bit grim as he facetiously made the remark to Mr.

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October 17, 1944

The area in front of the Big House was completely covered by mountainous piles of packing cases and soldiers. Each day, we went about our

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October 19, 1944

Just as we finished our dismal breakfast of dirty mush, our dear enemy returned! Kay and Margo were already on my bed, when Catesy and

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